Book excerpt: The newly updated EMTALA Answer Book provides an authoritative, easy-to-access guide for addressing the thorny issues surrounding COBRA for emergency department physicians, emergency nurse managers, emergency administrators, and risk managers, helping them to Understand The implications of their decisions vis a vis this law. The potentially problematic aspects of medical screening, treatment, transfer, and other EMTALA responsibilities of hospitals are explored from the medical perspective, and practical suggestions for compliance are provided.